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Report of the 
Commission of Nineteen 
on $olity 


ae 


To Bre PRESENTED TO THE 
NaTIoNAL CouNcIL oF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES 


At 1Ts MEETING IN I913 





i rik nK 
ary oe te 
Eph ha Nii 
ok Ai i 


vi) Y 2 Va 
Shy Way 





Report of the 
Commission of Nineteen 
on Polity 


To BE PRESENTED To THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CONGREGATIONAL 
CHURCHES OF THE UNITED STATES TO BE HELD IN 
Kansas City In May, 1913 





Additional copies of this Report may be obtained by sending address 
and postage at the rate of two cents a copy to the 
Commission on Polity, Sublette, Illinois 


PRINTED BY ORDER OF 
Tue ComMIssION ON POLITY 


CHICAGO, IQII 


A REQUEST 


The Commission of Nineteen on Polity will greatly value 
any formal expression of opinion, whether of approval or of 
criticism or both, which may be the result of a careful consid- 
eration of this report. The Commission hopes that every pas- 
tor and layman into whose hands this report comes will see 
that it is closely studied, clearly presented, and thoroughly 
debated, not only in all Conferences and Associations, but in 
every Brotherhood, Men’s Bible Class, and Church Prayer 
Meeting in Congregationalism. Any resultant communication 
may be sent to the Chairman or Secretary of the Commission, 
and will be given friendly consideration. 


FOR THE COMMISSION OF POLITY 


FRANK K. SANDERS, Chairman 
Washburn College, Topeka, Kansas 


WILLIAM E. BARTON, Secretary 
First Church, Oak Park, Illinois 


Che Commission on Bolity 


The Commission of Nineteen on Polity was created by the 
National Council at Boston in October, 1910, and grew out 
of certain recommendations of a Committee of Twenty-five 
which had been sitting during the sessions of the Council. 
That portion of the Report of the Committee of Twenty-five 
which applied to the appointment of this Commission is as 
follows: 

Resolved, That the Council appoint a Commission 
of Nineteen on Polity, empowered to fill its own va- 
cancies, to give consideration to the questions re- 
ferred to it by this Council, to formulate a consistent 
and practicable scheme of administration, and to 
submit to the next Council a constitution and by-laws 
which embody their judgment, and that this resolu- 
tion serve as the notification required by the consti- 
tution for such amendments. 

Resolved, That the Council hereby declares in 
favor of the enlarged conception of the secretaryship, 
laying upon that office added advisory and adminis- 
trative service; and the Commission of Nineteen is 
hereby authorized to select and nominate a general 
secretary to the Provisional Committee. 

Resolved, That the Provisional Committee be 
authorized to provide for the expense of the meet- 
ings of this Commission and for the expense of the 
secretaryship as herein outlined. 

Resolved, That the questions of more frequent 
sessions of the Council, the payment of expenses of 
delegates, and an equal representation of ministers 
and laymen, and any other questions pertaining to 
the work of the Commission, be referred to the Com- 
mission of Nineteen on Polity. 


ill, Sh 


SHembers of the Commission on Polity 


President Frank K. Sanders, D. D., Chairman, Kansas. 
Rev. William E. Barton, D. D., Secretary, Llinois. 
Rev. Nehemiah Boynton, D. D., New York. 
President Charles S. Nash, D. D., California. 
Professor Williston Walker, D. D., Connecticut. 
Mr. William W. Mills, Ohio. 

Rev. Henry A. Stimson, D. D., New York. 

Rev. Oliver Huckel, D. D., Maryland. 

Dr. Lucien C. Warner, LL. D., New York. 

Rev. Charles S. Mills, D. D., Missouri. 

Rev. ‘Rockwell H. Potter, D. D., Connecticut. 
Hon. John M. Whitehead, Wisconsin. 

Mr. Frank Kimball, Illinois. 

Hon. Henry H. Beardsley, Missouri. 

Rev Hentyy Ei kelsey,) aie tone. 

President Edward D. Eaton, D. D., Wisconsin. 
Hon. Samuel B. Capen, LL. D., Massachusetts. 
Hon. Arthur H. Wellman, Massachusetts. 

Rev. Raymond Calkins, D. D., Maine. 


Committees of the Commission 


ON CONSTITUTION, Messrs. Barton, Eaton and White- - 


head. 


ON SOCIETIES, Messrs. Walker, Capen, Calkins, Pot- 
ter, Wellman and Warner. 


ON SECRETARYSHIP, Messrs. Nash, Kelsey and 
Walker. 


ON FINANCE, Messrs. Kimball, Boynton, Warner, 
Beardsley and W. W. Mills. 


ON PUBLICITY, the Chairman ‘and Secretary of the 
Commission, and Messrs. C. S. Mills, Beardsley and Calkins. 





Explanatory Statement 


The Commission of Nineteen on Polity, appointed by the 
National Council of the Congregational Churches of the 
United States at its meeting in Boston in October, 1910, will 
present a report for the consideration of that Council at its 
meeting in Kansas City in May, 1913. As preliminary to that 
meeting, the Commission now lays its report before the Con- 
gregational Churches, that it may have their careful consider- 
ation before being submitted to the Council, and that the Com- 
mission may profit by any suggestions that may be made. 

The Commission has held three extended meetings, and 
has availed itself largely of the services of sub-committees, 
which have performed much labor. Through its sub-commit- 
tees, by interviews and correspondence, it has consulted the 
officers of missionary societies and representative pastors and 
laymen as widely as possible. It has carefully weighed their 
suggestions and advice and gratefully acknowledges their fra- 
ternal assistance. The results here presented have the ap- 
proval of the entire Commission. 

The Commission has conducted its work under a sense of 
grave responsibility, believing that the duties laid upon it by 
the National Council were not only difficult but highly impor- 
tant. It has sought, in no spirit of radicalism or of undue in- 
novation, to increase the efficiency of the administration of 
our Congregational system, while guarding its fundamental 
principles. The autonomy of no Congregational Church is 
abridged by its recommendations, the rights of no Congrega- 
tional believer are limited. A larger usefulness in practical 
efficiency is sought for the institutions which Congregational- 
ism now possesses. 

The report of the Commission falls under three main di- 
visions,—on the Constitution and By-Laws of the National 
Council; on the Relations of the Missionary Societies to the 
Churches and to one another; and on the Secretaryship of the 
National Council. 

1. The Constitution and By-Laws of the National Council. 


Sere: 


EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 





Here, as in all its work, the effort of the Commission has 
been to secure increased efficiency. It has proposed no judicial 
or legislative functions for the Council; they are foreign to 
the genius of Congregationalism. But it believes that the in- 
creasing usefulness of the Council as representative of the 
Churches, as voicing their wishes and as offering opportunity 
for the consideration of questions vitally affecting their wel- 
fare, can best be served by some modifications of its Consti- 
tution. 

The Commission therefore recommends that, instead of 
the present temporary character of the Council, it be given 
greater permanency. Its members should, therefore, be 
chosen so as to serve ultimately in two successive meetings 
of the Council, one half being renewed at each election. In 
this manner each recurring meeting of the Council would find 
at least half its members experienced in its methods, acquaint- 
ed with many of the questions likely to come before it, and 
prepared for their discussion. For similar reasons the Com- 
mission recommends that the Moderator of each meeting of 
the Council be chosen at the close of the preceding meeting 
of the Council. The opportunity thus afforded for prepara- 
tion for his important work is most valuable. Of the various 
committees of the Council that on Nominations is one of the 
most important. None needs more opportunity for the pa- 
tient consideration of its arduous duties. The Commission 
recommends that, instead of appointment, as at present, at the 
beginning of the meeting of the Council, with consequent 
haste in the discharge of its task, it be made a standing com- 
mittee, renewable in groups, which may thus give careful con- 
sideration to its work. This modification is the more desir- 
able if, as the Commission proposes, important duties in the 
selection of members of the Missionary Societies should be 
laid on the Nominating Committee. 

The question of the frequency with which the Council 
should meet has been considered with great care, and the views 
of many Congregational pastors and laymen have been 
sought. A remarkable preponderance of opinion has favored 
sessions once in two years. In that conclusion the Commis- 
sion heartily concurs. 


There appears to be no reason why a Council of such per- 
ism 


EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 





manency of life as is here recommended should not be incor- 
porated, and many advantages of incorporation are evident. 
Such action is therefore recommended. 

A slight modification in the basis of representation is pro- 
posed, each District Association being represented by at least 
two delegates. This, it is believed, will make a more equit- 
able division of membership between ministers and laymen 
probable. The addition to the present membership of the 
Council will be small. 


The Preamble of the Censtitution contains a paragraph on 
doctrine and one on polity; and in addition to these, there 
was. adopted at Oberlin in 1871 a “Declaration of Unity,” in 
Six paragraphs, which was virtually a part of the Constitution, 
and has been printed between the Constitution and By-Laws 
in all editions published by the Council. This material seemed 
to call for a thorough reshaping, with a view to greater sym- 
metry. The proposed Constitution therefore contains an in- 
troductory paragraph, and a paragraph each on doctrine, pol- 
ity, and Christian unity. 

The changes proposed regarding the relations of the Coun- 
cil to the Missionary Societies are of much importance, but 
will be considered under the next division of this Statement. 

2. The Relations of the Missionary Societies to thei 
Churches and to one another. 


In attempting to meet the problems involved, the Commis- 
sion felt that a threefold task was laid upon it. It must, first 
of all, safeguard the existing efficiency and recognize the legal 
rights of the present societies. Each of them has a large body 
of devoted supporters, many of whom have given time, money 
and thought, for years, to its maintenance, and this constitu- 
ency, which constitutes the background of these societies, is 
not lightly to be ignored or set aside. Secondly, the Commis- 
sion felt charged with the duty of bringing the societies into 
the closest possible relations, consistent with safeguarding the 
interests just mentioned, with the Churches as represented in 
the National Council. And, thirdly, the Commission has felt 
strongly the evident desire of the Churches that our missionary 
societies working in the homeland should be brought together 
speedily in some more effective consolidation. It is natural 


Pai, BEN 


EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 





that impatience should be felt by reason of the present multi- 
plicity of organizations. But the Commission is mindful of 
the fact that consolidation can be accomplished only by sua- 
sion, not by force. It desires to secure this result with the 
least possible friction and the utmost good-will. It feels that 
it is impossible to prescribe arbitrarily what form consolida- 
tion shall take, and that such union should be by growth as 
experience in co-operation shall determine. In laying out a 
Plan with this purpose in view, it has, therefore, regarded what 
it believes would be the ultimate result more than the sug- 
gestions of the immediate present, conceiving that the natural 
consequences of the Plan here outlined would be a much more 
extensive and thorough-going consolidation than could now 
possibly be effected. 


In regard to the American Board, the Commission recom- 
mends that the nomination of the members selected at present 
by the State Conferences and District Associations be trans- 
ferred directly to the National Council, which shall thus nom- 
inate the majority of the corporate membership of the Amer- 
ican Board. This change, it is believed, will work for greater 
efficiency, and among other advantages, will obviate one pres- 
ent infelicity. In order to secure an equality of ministers and 
laymen, the district Associations now nominate two represent- 
atives, one of whom is now accepted and the other necessarily 
passed over. Such seeming, even though inevitable, discrim- 
ination, will by this Plan be avoided. 


By thus nominating the majority of the membership of 
the American Board, the Churches, as represented in the 
Council. will really stand in relation to it in a position very 
similar to that recommended regarding the proposed Home 
Board of Missions, described in the next paragraph, where 
the membership of the National Council itself is proposed as 
the voting majority in the Home Board of Missions. A 
closer relation of the American Board to the National Council 
than that here indicated seems to be beset at present with 
insuperable legal objections. The American Board is operat- 
_ing under a venerable charter alterable with extreme difficulty, 
while the Home Board of Missions, as a new creation, can 
be fashioned as may be desired. 


an oe 


EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 


The situation presented by the societies working in our own 
country and its dependencies, the Commission found much 
more perplexing. The wish of our Churches is strong that 
their work should be co-ordinated and consolidated. At the 
same time, these societies have each an independent legal 
corporate existence which cannot be altered except by the 
action of the society itself. At the risk of seeming, to the 
superficial observer at least, to be recommending the or- 
ganization of an additional society, but with the expectation 
of far greater ultimate union than at present, the Commission 
proposes the formation of a “Home Board of Missions,” which 
may serve as a uniting bond between the several societies 
which shall become its constituents, if not legally at present, 
at least morally and effectively. Of this Home Board of 
Missions, the membership of the National Council shall be 
voting members; but, in order to ensure the presence of the 
tried and faithful supporters of the societies in this Home 
Board of Missions, besides the members of the National 
Council, one hundred and fifty corporate members-at-large, 
selected in the first instance by the constituent societies them- 
selves, shall also go to make up the Home Board of Missions. 
The Home Board of Missions, and therefore the whole 
National Council, shall become also voting members in each 
of the present six societies working at home. 


The central feature of the proposed Home Board of Mis- 
sions is its Board of Managers. By means of this Board 
of Managers the work of the several existing societies will 
be in large measure co-ordinated and brought into harmonious 
relationship. Plans for new work involving the co-operation 
of two or more existing societies can be readily initiated 
through the operation of this Board of Managers. Provision 
is made for an effective representation of each constituent 
society in this Board of Managers, and of the Board in the 
administration of each constituent society. 

The Commission has carefully weighed the objections that 
the interests of the evangelistic and outreaching activities 
of the churches on the one hand, and of their educational 
labors on the other, are so diverse as to make _ super- 
intendence by a single Home Board of Missions undesirable. 


cies 


EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 





It believes, however, that one main object of any Plan like 
that here proposed is to secure a just balancing of the claims 
of home missionary and educational activities, and that this 
can be far better secured in a body in which both are fairly 
represented than by setting independent organizations side 
by side. 

A further objection that the Commission has encountered, 
though not very strongly urged, is that the creation of a 
Home Board of Missions may seem to place the home and 
foreign interests of the Churches on a basis of equal financial 
appeal. This does not seem to the Commission to be the 
case. In any event, the Apportionment Plan, to which our 
Churches seem committed in principle, renders such criticism 
of little practical weight. 


It has been objected that the creation of a Home Board 
of Missions would render the leadership of the present so- 
cieties of lessened significance and make it difficult to secure 
able men for their governing bodies. The Commission does 
not believe that would be the result. It freely admits that 
its Plan aims at consolidation—just how extensive it believes 
that time and experience can best determine. But, pending 
consolidation, the legal existence of each constituent society 
remains undisturbed, the field of administrative responsibility 
is large, and, in the opinion of the Commission, the Home 
Board of Missions would concern itself with broad questions 
of inter-society relationship and Christian advancement rather 
than details of administration. 


3. The Secretaryship of the National Council. 

The Commission proposes the creation of no new office, 
but rather the enlargement of an existing service of value 
into greater usefulness to the Churches. It does not recom- 
mend innovation but development. The ideal which it enter- 
tains is amply set forth in the accompanying report. As a 
paid officer of the Council, giving his whole time to the in- 
terests of the Churches, in no supervisory fashion, but in 
fraternal helpfulness, the Commission believes that the Sec- 
retary may be of high value in making more united and 
efficient the activities of the whole Congregational fellowship. 
It will propose to the coming National Council the develop- 


pa ff ae 





EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 





ment of the office as here indicated. Such a growth will 
involve some additional expenditure, relatively small, in the 
judgment of the Commission, in comparison with the possible 
service to our Churches. 

The consideration last mentioned raises a question which 
the Commission did not deem it belonging to its province to 
attempt to answer, but which may fittingly engage the at- 
tention of the next Council. May it not be wise to substitute 
a modest allowance to be raised on the Apportionment Plan 
to cover the expenses of the National Council, the Year 
Book, the Secretaryship, possibly the Home Board of Mis- 
sions, and similar charges, rather than continue the present 
assessment of the Churches at so many cents a member? 
Would not these expenses be thus more easily and regularly 
met, and in a manner less burdensome and annoying to the 
churches? 

The Commission presents this report with no feeling that 
it is beyond serious criticism, or that it will commend itself 
to all members of our Churches. It has, however, attempted 
to do-faithfully the work which was intrusted to it by the 
Council. It believes that our Churches desire to make their 
activities more efficient without forfeiting anything of value 
in the creations of the past. It believes that this result can 
be brought about only by mutual co-operation, by a spirit of 
fraternal helpfulness, and by a willingness to sacrifice, if 
necessary, some things of relatively minor importance that the 
greater result which we all desire may be secured. 


FRANK K. SANDERS, Chairman. 
WILLIAM E. BARTON, Secretary. 
ARTHUR H. WELLMAN. 
CHARLES!’ S. NASH. 

CHARLES S$. MILLS. 

EDWARD D. EATON. 

FRANK KIMBALL. 

HENRY M. BEARDSLEY. 
HENRY .H. KELSEY. 

HENRY A. STIMSON. 

JOHN M. WHITEHEAD. 
LUCIEN C. WARNER. 
NEHEMIAH BOYNTON. 
OLIVER HUCKEL. 

RAYMOND CALKINS. 
ROCKWELL HARMON POTTER. 
SAMUEL B. CAPEN. 
WILLISTON WALKER. 
WILLIAM W. MILLS. 


a=] ee 


Proposed Constitution 


BY-LAWS AND RULES OF ORDER OF THE 
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF 
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES OF 


THE UNITED STATES 


The Congregational Churches of the United States, by 
delegates in National Council assembled, reserving all the 
rights and cherished memories belonging to this organization 
under its former Constitution, and declaring the steadfast 
allegiance of the Churches and ministers composing the 
Council to that faith which our fathers confessed, and which 
has found expression in the historic creeds of this communion 
and of the Church universal; and affirming our loyalty to 
the basic principles of our polity in the freedom of the indi- 
vidual soul, the autonomy of the local Church, and the union 
of Churches for effective work and fellowship in the bonds 
of a representative democracy, hereby set forth the things 
most surely believed among us concerning doctrine and fel- 
lowship. 


This Council, and the Churches composing. it, believing 
in the love of God the Father toward all men, and in the 
revelation of that love in Jesus Christ our Lord, and seeking 
to live together in the life, fellowship and service of the Spirit 
of God, are united in striving to know their duty as taught 
in the Holy Scriptures and through the present ministration 
of the Spirit of God, in their covenant to walk in the ways 
of the Lord made known or to be made known to them, and 
in their labor for that righteousness which is profitable for 


22 9e8 


PROPOSED CONSTITUTION 


the life that now is, and has promise for the life everlasting. 
Heartily accepting that substance of doctrine contained in 
the ancient symbols of the undivided Church, in the common 
faith which belongs to all Christians, and in the truth which 
has found expression in our communion in noble deeds and 
living words set forth by those whose faith we follow, we 
humbly depend, as did our fathers, on the continued guidance 
of the Holy Spirit of God, to lead us into all truth. 

We believe in the sovereignty of personality, and in the 
right of private judgment, a right to be cherished by each 
Christian in loving and mutual regard for the rights and 
opinions of others. We hold to the autonomy of the local 
Church and its freedom from all eccesiastical, legislative or 
judicial control. We cherish the fellowship of the Churches, 
united in district, state and national bodies for counsel and 
co-operant action in matters of common concern. 

While thus affirming the liberty of our Churches as 
taught in the New Testament, and inherited by us from our 
fathers and from martyrs and confessors, the apostolic 
character of the Congregational way, and the validity of its 
ministry, we hold to the unity and catholicity of the Church 
of Christ; and will unite with all its branches in hearty co- 
operation; and will earnestly seek, so far as in us lies, that 
the prayer of our Lord for His disciples may be answered, 
that they all may be one. 

United in support of these principles, the Congregational 
Churches in National Council assembled agree in the adop- 
tion of the following Constitution: 


CONSTITUTION 
Article I.—Name 


This body shall be known, and in all its official acts shall 
be designated as, THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE 
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES OF THE UNITED 
Sil ie. 


Article II.—Purpose 
The purpose of the National Council shall be to foster 
and express the substantial unity of our Churches in doctrine, 


ee hoe 


PROPOSED CONSTITUTION 





polity and work; to consult upon and devise measures and 
maintain agencies for the promotion of the common interests. 
of all the Churches herein represented; to assist the Churches 
in the work of evangelization; to encourage the united de- 
velopment of their resources, and to strengthen them in 
more effective relations to each other and to all parts of the 
kingdom of Christ. 


Article II1I.—Members of the National Council 


1. Voting Members. The voting membership of the 
National Council shall consist of three classes, namely: 


a. Official Members. Each stated meeting of the National 
Council shall elect four members to the next stated meeting, 
and these shall be members also of all special meetings called 
during the interval; namely, the moderator, or in his absence 
the first assistant moderator present; the secretary, the regis- 
trar, and the treasurer. 


b. Delegates. Each District Association shall be repre- 
sented by two delegates, if practicable by one minister and 
one layman, and two additional delegates for every twenty 
Churches or major fraction thereof composing the Associa- 
tion. Each State Conference shall be represented by two. 
delegates, and two additional delegates for each 20,000 mem- 
bers or major fraction thereof. In all cases delegations shall 
be divided between ministers and laymen as nearly equally as 
is practicable. 


c. Institutional Delegates. Such Congregational societies. 
for Christian work, and the faculties of such theological 
seminaries and colleges as shall be recognized by the Council, 
may be represented by one delegate each. 


2. Honorary Members. Statistical secretaries of state 
and territorial bodies, ministers serving the Churches enter- 
taining the Council, all former moderators and assistant 
moderators, persons selected as preachers, or to prepare. 
papers, or to serve upon committees or commissions chosen 
by the Council, and missionaries present who have been not 
less than seven years in the service of the American Board of 
Commissioners for Foreign Missions, shall be entitled to. 


ae Ya, 


PROPOSED CONSTITUTION 





all privileges of members in the meeting of the Council in 
which they are so enrolled, except that of voting. 


3. Vacancies and Alternates. Each state or district or- 
ganization may provide in its own way for filling vacancies 
in its delegation. In the absence of any special rule on the 
part of such state or district body, the Council will recognize 
the right of the delegates present to fill vacancies in their own 
delegation. 


4. Terms for Which Members May Be Elected. Each 
District Association or State Conference, in electing delegates 
to the National Council, is desired at its next election to di- 
vide its delegation into two classes, to serve, respectively, 
thru one and two stated meetings of the Council; and at each 
election thereafter to choose delegates who shall hold office 
for two consecutive stated meetings. All delegates shall be 
members of any intervening special meetings convened dur- 
ing the period of their membership. The moderator, or in 
his absence the first assistant moderator present, shall have 
voting membership in the next stated meeting of the Council 
following his election, and in all intervening special meetings. 

5. Corresponding Members. The Council shall not in- 
crease its own voting membership; but members of other 
denominations present by invitation or representing their 
denominations, and representatives of Congregational bodies 
in other lands, or other persons present who represent im- 
portant interests, or have rendered distinguished services, 
may, by vote, be made corresponding members, and entitled 
to the courtesy of the floor without vote. 


Article IV.—Meetings 


1. Stated Meetings. The Churches will meet in National 
Council once in two years; the time and place of meeting 
to be announced at least six months previous to the meeting. 


2. Special Meetings. The National Council will convene 
in special meeting whenever any five of the general state or- 
ganizations so request. 


Quorum. Delegates present from a majority of the 
states entitled to representation in the Council shall constitute 
a quorum. 


Sat es 


PROPOSED CONSTITUTION 





Article V.—Officers 

1. The Moderator. At every stated meeting there shall 
be chosen by ballot, a moderator and a first and a second 
assistant moderator, whose duties shall begin at the close of 
said meeting, and who shall preside over the next stated and 
all intervening meetings of the Council. 

2. Other Officers. At each stated meeting there shall be 
chosen by ballot, a secretary, a registrar, a treasurer and an 
auditor, to serve from the close of such meeting to the close 
of the next stated meeting of the Council. 


Article VI.—The Provisional Committee 

1. At each stated meeting there shall be chosen a Pro- 
visional Committee, which shall make needful arrangements 
for the next stated and any intervening meetings of the 
Council. 

2. The Provisional Committee shall consist of eleven 
persons, the moderator, the secretary, the registrar, and the 
treasurer ex officiis, and seven others chosen by the Council, 
including two members of the last previous committee; and 
six shall be a quorum. 


Article VII.—Incorporation 

1. The Incorporation of the National Council. The 
National Council of the Congregational Churches of the 
United States shall become incorporated under the laws of 
the State of Connecticut; and may acquire by purchase, gift, 
devise, or otherwise, and hold and dispose of real and personal 
property for the purpose of its creation, and may make any 
contracts for promoting its objects and purposes not incon- 
sistent with law. 

2. Object. The object of said Corporation is to do and 
promote charitable and Christian work for the advancement 
of the general interests and purposes of the Congregational 
Churches of this country, and to receive, hold and administer, 
in trust or otherwise, funds and property for the uses of said 
National Council, or of Churches of the Congregational order, 
or of any particular Church of said order, and all in accord- 
ance with resolutions and declarations made from time to 
time by the National Council of the Congregational Churches 
of the United States, or by any body which may succeed to 


16= 


PROPOSED CONSTITUTION 


the functions of said Council; and said Corporation may co- 
operate with any other corporation or body which is under the 
charge and control of Churches of the Congregational order 
in the United States, or Churches at the time affiliated with 
said order. 

Trustees. a. The corporate members of said Corporation 
shall consist of a Board of Trustees, composed of the moder- 
ator and secretary of the Council ex-officiis and fifteen other 
trustees elected by the Council. 

b. Of the said first elected trustees five shall be chosen for 
two years, five for four years and five for six years; and there- 
after trustees shall be chosen for terms of six years. 

c. The Board of Trustees may adopt for its government 
and the management of its officers standing by-laws and 
rules, not inconsistent with its charter nor with the constitu- 
tion, by-laws and rules of the Council. It shall make to the 
Council at each of the stated meetings of the Council a full 
report of its doings since the preceding meeting of the Coun- 
cil. Seven trustees shall constitute a quorum. 

4. Meetings. The Board of Trustees may hold their 
meetings, from time to time, in any part of the United States, 
agreeably to such rules and regulations as shall be made by 
them and approved by the National Council. In each year in 
which is held a stated meeting of the National Council the 
annual meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be held in the 
place and at the time of such stated meeting. 

5. Corporate Seal. The Seal of the National Council of 
the Congregational Churches of the United States shall be: 





PROPOSED CONSTITUTION 


A scroll, either printed, written or stamped, which may be 
bordered with leaves and blossoms of the mayflower, con- 
taining the following inscription: 

In the outer circle the words: 

NATIONAL COUNCIL CONGREGATIONAL 
CHURCHES UNITED STATES 
In an inner circle the two mottoes: 
Above, UNITY, LIBERTY, CHARITY 
Below, WHOSE FAITH FOLLOW 

And this emblem or device: 

A ship representing the Mayflower under full sail. 


Article VIII.—Congregational National Societies 

The National Council regards the American Board of 
Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the Congregational 
Home Missionary Society, the American Missionary Associa- 
tion, the Congregational Education Society, the Congre- 
gational Church Building Society, the Congregational Sun- 
day School and Publishing Society and the Congregational 
Board of Ministerial Relief, as agents of the Congregational 
Churches of the United States for missionary, educational and 
relief work in the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Its 
own relation to them is as representative of those Churches. 
It therefore performs the following functions: 


1. The National Council shall nominate, on recommend- 
ation of its Standing Committee on Nominations, three hund- 
red persons who may be chosen as corporate members by the 
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 
These nominees shall be so selected as to be as widely repre- 
sentative as possible, geographically and numerically, of 
the Congregational Churches of the United States, about one- 
half being clergymen and one-half laymen. They shall be 
divided into three classes of one-hundred each, so chosen 
that the term of each class shall be ultimately six years, and 
that the term of one class shall expire and its successor be 
nominated at each stated meeting of the National Council. 

2. The Congregational Home Missionary Society, the 
American Missionary Association, the Congregational Edu- 
cation Society, the Congregational Church Building Society, 
the Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society and 


ey fd 


PROPOSED CONSTITUTION 


the Congregational Board of Ministerial Relief, shall be affili- 
ated as speedily as possible with the Home Board of Mis- 
sions, of which they shall be known as “constituent societies.” 
The members of the National Council shall be voting mem- 
bers of the Home Board of Missions, 

3. It shall be the duty of the National Council to pro- 
vide opportunity, in connection with each stated meeting, for 
meetings of the American Board of Commissioners for For- 
eign Missions and of the Home Board of Missions. 

4. It shall be the duty of the National Council at each 
stated meeting to receive, examine and consider reports of 
the work of the American Board and of the Home Board of 
Missions. 


Article [X.—By-Laws 


The Council may make and alter by-laws at any stated 
meeting by a two-thirds vote of members present and vot- 
ing; provided, that no new by-law shall be enacted and no 
by-law altered or repealed on the day on which the change 
is proposed. 


Article X—Amendments 


This Constitution shall not be altered or amended, ex- 
cept at a stated meeting, and by a two-thirds vote of those 
present and voting; notice thereof having been given at a 
previous stated meeting, or the proposed alteration: having 
been requested by some general state organization of 
Churches entitled to representation in the Council, and pub- 
lished with the notification of the meeting. 


BY-LAWS 
1.—The Call of a Meeting of the Council 


The call for any meeting shall be signed by the chair- 
man of the Provisional Committee and the secretary of the 
Council. It shall contain a list of topics proposed by the Com- 
mittee; and the secretary shall seasonably furnish blank 
credentials and other needful papers to the scribes of the 
several district and state organizations of the Churches en- 
titled to representation in the Council. 


ag [eos 


PROPOSED CONSTITUTION 





II.—The Time of Stated Meetings 


The meetings shall ordinarily be held in the latter part of 
May. 


_III.—The Formation of the Roll 


Immediately after the call to order the secretary shall col- 
lect the credentials of delegates present, and these persons 
shall be prima facie the constituency for immediate organiza- 
tion. Contested delegations shall not delay the permanent or- 
ganization, but shall be referred to the Committee on Cre- 
dentials, all contested delegations refraining from voting until 
the contest is settled. 


IV.—The Moderator 


The moderator shall preside at the meeting of the Coun- 
cil following that at which he is elected, and is expected to 
open the Council with an address. 

It is expected that the moderator have, in addition to pre- 
siding duties, a representative function; that visiting, upon 
invitation Churches and associations, so far as he may be able 
and disposed, addressing the Churches, if in his judgment 
occasion require it, and, in general, serving the Churches, be 
regarded as his prerogative. It is understood, that all his 
acts and utterances shall be devoid of authority, and that for 
them shall be claimed and to them given only such weight 
and force as there is weight and force in the reason of them. 

The moderator and assistant moderators shall retain their 
offices until their successors are chosen. The moderator or 
an assistant moderator at the opening of the stated meeting 
next following that at which he is elected shall take the chair, 
and, after prayer, shall at once proceed to complete the or- 
ganization of the Council. 

In the absence of the moderator and the assistant moder- 
ators, the Provisional Committee is authorized to appoint some 
person to act as moderator of the opening session of the 
Council. 


V.—The Secretary 


The secretary shall receive communications for the Coun- 
cil, conduct correspondence, and collect such facts and super- 


aay) Be 


PROPOSED CONSTITUTION 


intend such publications as may from time to time be ordered. 

He shall compile and edit the Year Book and other pub- 
lications of the Council, shall send out notices of meetings of 
the Council and of its Board of Trustees, and preserve the 
records of all the doings of the Council. -He shall represent 
the Council in our denominational gatherings, and express the 
fellowship of the Congregational Churches in representative 
gatherings of other denominations. He shall be available for 
advice and aid in matters of polity and constructive organi- 
zation, and shall render to the Churches such other services 
as are appropriate to his office, and as the Council or its Board 
of Trustees may from time to time require. 


VI.—The Registrar 


The registrar shald make and preserve the records of the 
proceedings of the Council; and for his aid one or more as- 
sistants shall be chosen at each meeting, to serve during such 
meeting. 


_ VII.—The Treasurer 


The treasurer shall do the work ordinarily belonging to 
such office; shall hold all funds of the Council subject to its 
order and disburse the same on order of the Council or of the 
Board of Trustees and shall give bond in such sum as the 
Board of Trustees shall from time to time determine. 


VIII.—The Board of Trustees 


The Board of Trustees shall have authority to contract for 
all necessary expenditures and to appoint one of their num- 
ber who shall approve and sign all bills for payment; shall 
consult the interests of the Council and act for it in intervals 
between meetings in all matters of business and finance, sub- 
ject to the approval of the Council; and shall make a full re- 
port of all their doings, the consideration of which shall be 
first in order of business after organization. 


IX.—The Provisional Committee 


The Provisional Committee shall specify in the official call 
the place and precise time at which each meeting shall begin; 
shall choose a preacher; may select topics regarding the 


OT 


PROPOSED CONSTITUTION 





Christian work of the Churches, and persons to prepare and 
present papers thereon; shall do any work referred to it 
by the Council, and shall name a place for the next stated 
meeting of the Council. It may fill any vacancy occur- 
ring in its own number or in any committee or office in the 
intervals of meeting, the persons so appointed to serve until 
the next meeting of the Council. It shall act for the Council 
between its meetings in matters other than financial. It shall 
appoint any committees ordered by the Council, but not other- 
wise appointed; and committees so appointed shall be entered 
in the minutes as by action of the Council. 

It shall lay out a definite program for the Council, as- 
signing a distinct time, not to be changed except by special 
vote of the Council, to 


(1) The papers appointed to be read before the Council. 


(2) The commissions appointed by one Council to re- 
port at the next, which may present the topics referred to 
them for discussion or action. 


(3) The benevolent societies and theological seminaries. 

All other business shall be set for other specified hours, 
and shall not displace the regular order, except by special 
vote of the Council. 


X.—Committees 


Immediately on his taking the chair, the moderator shall 
cause to be read the nominations for a Business Committee 
and a Committee on Credentials. These nominees shall be 
chosen so as to secure representation to different parts of the 
country, and the names shall be published in the denom- 
inational papers at least one month before the meeting, 
of the Council, and printed with the call of the meeting. The 
Council may approve these nominations or change them in 
whole or in part. 


1. The Business Committee. The Business Committee 
shall consist of not less than nine members. It shall prepare 
a docket for the use of the Council, and subject to its approval. 
All business to be proposed to the Council shall first be pre- 
sented to this committee, but the Council may at its pleasure 


fidy J a 


PROPOSED CONSTITUTION 





consider any item of business for which such provision has 
been refused by the committee. 


2. The Committee on Credentials. The Committee on 
Credentials shall prepare a roll of members. Of this commit- 
tee the secretary shall be a member. 


3. The Nominating Committe. The Nominating Com- 
mittee shall consist of nine members, and shall serve from the 
close of one stated meeting till the organization of the follow- 

ing stated meeting of the Council. At the next meeting five 
members shall be chosen for four years and four for two 
years, and thereafter members shall be chosen for four years. 
This committee shall nominate to the Council all officers, 
committees and commissions for which the Council does not 
otherwise provide. But the Council may at its pleasure 
choose committees, commissions or officers by nomination 
from the floor or otherwise as it shall from time to time de- 
termine. 


4. The Committee on the Congregational Brotherhood. 
At each stated meeting of the Council there may be appointed 
a committee of five, which shall hold office until the next 
succeeding meeting of the Council, and which shall advise 
with respect to, and actively aid in, the work of the Congre- 
gational Brotherhood. 


5. Other Committees. a. Other committees may be 
appointed from time to time, and in such manner as the Coun- 
cil shall determine, to make report during the meeting at 
which they are appointed. 


b. On such committees any member of the Council, vot- 
ing or honorary, is eligible for service. 

c. All such committees terminate their existence with 
the meetings at which they are appointed. 

d. No question or report shall be referred to a committee 
except by vote of the Council. 

e. Committees shall consist of five unless otherwise 
stated. 

f. Unless otherwise ordered, the first named member 
of a committee shall be chairman. 


ogee 


PROPOSED CONSTITUTION 





XI. Commissions 


a. Special committees appointed to act ad interim, other 
than the Provisional Committee, the Nominating Committee 
and the Committee on Brotherhood, shall be designated as 
commissions. 

_ 2. Commissions are expected to report at the next meet- 
ing following their appointment, and no commission shall 
continue beyond the next stated meeting of the Council except 
by special vote of the Council. 

c. No commission shall incur expense except as author- 
ized by the Council or the Board of Trustees. _ 

d. Any member in good standing of a Congregational 
Church is eligible for service on any commission, or ad interim 
committee, or on the Provisional Committee or Board of 
Trustees. 

e. Commissions shall choose their own chairmen; but 
the first named member shall call the first meeting and act as 
temporary chairman during the organization of the commis- 
sion. 


XII. Devotional and Other Services 


The Council will seek to bring to its sessions a distinctly 
spiritual uplift, and to this end will arrange programs for the 
presentation of messages for the general public attending 
such gatherings. But the first concern of the Council shall 
be the transaction of the business of the denomination so far 
as that shall be intrusted to it by the Churches; and the 
Council will meet in separate or executive session during the 
delivery of addresses whenever the necessity of the business of 
the Council may appear to require it. 

In the sessions of the National Council, half an hour every 
morning shall be given to devotional services, and the daily 
sessions shall be opened with prayer, and closed with prayer 
or singing. The evening sessions shall ordinarily be given to 
meetings of a specially religious rather than of a business 
character. 


XIII.—Time Limitation 
No person shall occupy more than half an hour in read- 


SA) ee. 


PROPOSED CONSTITUTION 


eee ee 


ing any paper or report, and no speaker upon any motion or 
resolution, or upon any paper read, shall occupy more than 
ten minutes, without the unanimous consent of the Council. 
In case of discussion approaching the time limit set for it, 
the moderator may announce the limitation of speeches to 
less than ten minutes, subject to the approval of the Council. 


XIV.—The Printing of Reports 


Such reports from commissions and statements from so- 
cieties or theological seminaries as may be furnished to the 
secretary seasonably in advance of the meeting may be printed 
at the discretion of the Board of Trustees, and sent to the 
members elect, together with the program prepared by the 
Provisional Committee. Not more than ten minutes shall be 
given to the reading of any such report. 


XV.—The Publication of Statistics 


The Council will continue to make an annual compilation 
of statistics of the Churches, and a list of such ministers as are 
reported by the several state organizations. The secretary is 
directed to present at each stated meeting comprehensive and 
comparative summaries for the two years preceding. 


XVI.—Fellowship with Other Bodies 


The Council, as occasion may arise, will hold communica- 
tion with the general Congregational bodies of other lands, 
and with the general ecclesiastical organizations of other 
Churches of evangelical faith in our own land, by delegates 
appointed by the Council or by the Provisional Committee. 


XVII.—Rules of Order 


The rules of order of the National Council shall be those 
of Barton’s Congregational Manual. 


nly 


Che Council and the Societies 





A Plan for Securing a Closer Relationship Between the Mis- 
sionary Societies of the Congregational Churches 
and Those Churches as Represented in 
Their National Council 


1.- The foreign missionary work of the Congregational 
Churches of the United States shall be carried on under the 
auspices of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign 
Missions; and the home missionary work of these Churches 
under the auspices of the organizations composing the Home 
Board of Missions. 

2. The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign 
Missions. This Board shall be the agency of the Congrega- 
tional Churches for the extension of Christ’s Kingdom abroad. 

Corporate Membership. The corporate membership of the 
American Board shall consist, in addition to the present life 
members, of four hundred and fifty persons, divided into two 
classes. (a) One class shall be composed of three hundred 
members nominated by the standing Committee on Nomina- 
tions of the National Council of the Congregational Churches 
of the United States and approved by that Council, said nom- 
inations to be ratified and the persons so named elected by 
the American Board. This group of three hundred members 
shall be so constituted as to be widely representative as pos- 
sible, geographically and numerically, of the Congregational 
Churches of the United States, about one half being clergymen 
and one half laymen; and shall be divided into three sections 
of one hundred each, so chosen that the term of each section 
shall be ultimately six years, and that the term of one section 
shall expire and its successor be nominated at each biennial 
session of the National Council. In case the National Council 
shall fail to nominate for corporate members, or nominations 
made shall not be accepted by the nominees, the American 
Board may proceed to elect from its own nominations. (b) In 
addition to the three hundred corporate members thus nom- 


oes 


THE COUNCIL AND THE SOCIETIES 


inated by the National Council, there shall be chosen by the 
American Board one hundred and fifty corporate members- 
at large. The said one hundred and fifty corporate members- 
at-large shall be so chosen that the term of each section shall 
be ultimately six years, one section being chosen every second 
year. 

Prudential Committee. The immediate administration of 
the American Board shall be vested as at present in a Pruden- 
tial Committee, composed of the President and Vice Presi- 
dent ex-officiis, and of twelve members arranged in three 
groups of four each, and so elected that their tenure of office 
shall be for three years, one group being chosen annually. 
Said Prudential Committee is to be chosen by ballot by the 
corporate membership. No member who has served upon the 
Committee for three full successive terms of three years each 
shall be eligibie for re-election until after a year has passed. 

Officers. The officers of the American Board shall consist 
-of a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, and such Sec- 
retaries and other officers as the Corporation may from time 
to time determine. 

Meetings. Regular meetings of the American Board of 
Commissioners for Foreign Missions shall be held annually. 
That falling in the same year in which the National Council 
holds its session shall be held in connection with the meeting 
of said Council. Meetings in other years shall be held at such 
time and place as the Board itself may determine. 

Reports. It shali be the duty of the American Board to 
make a full and accurate report of its work to the National 
Council of the Congregational Churches of the United States 
at each meeting of that body. 

3. The Home Board of Missions. This Society shall be 
the agency of the Congregational Churches for the extension 
of Christ’s Kingdom in the United States. It shall be incor- 
porated, and shall have general charge of the missionary work 
of those Churches in the United States and supervision of the 
various societies engaged therein, with the ultimate aim of 
simplifying and unifying their work. 

Corporate Membership. The corporate membership of the 
Home Board of Missions shall consist of: (a) The member- 


ship of the National Council itself. (b) In addition to the 
pg ea 


THE COUNCIL AND THE SOCIETIES 





members of the National Council, there shall be chosen one 
hundred and fifty corporate members-at-large, elected in the 
first instance by the National Council on nomination by the 
six existing Congregational societies—hereinafter called the 
“constituent societies’—viz., the Congregational Home Mis- 
sionary Society, the American Missionary Association, the 
Congregational Education Society, the Congregational 
Church Building Society, the Congregational Sunday School 
and Publishing Society, and the Congregational Board of Min- 
interial Relief, in the proportion of forty-five each from the 
two societies first named and of fifteen each from the four 
societies last named; and thereafter to be chosen by the vote 
of the whole corporate membership of the Home Board of 
Missions. In this selection at least one-fifth of the said cor- 
porate members-at-large may be chosen from the organiza- 
tions for the support of Congregational activities affiliated in 
the Woman’s Home Missionary Federation. The said one 
hundred and fifty corporate members-at-large shall be divided 
into three sections of fifty each, and so chosen that the term of 
each section shall be ultimately six years, one section being 
chosen every second year. 


Board of Managers. The immediate administration of the 
Home Board of Missions shall be vested in a Board of Man- 
agers, consisting of the President and Vice President ex- 
officiis, of twelve members chosen by ballot by the corporate 
membership of said Home Board of Missions; and of ten 
members chosen by the said Home Board of Missions on nom- 
ination by the constituent societies from their own adminis- 
trative boards, in the following proportions, viz., by the Con- 
gregational Home Missionary Society, three; by the Ameri- 
can Missionary Association, three; by the Congregational 
Church Building Society, one; by the Congregational Educa- 
tion Society, one; by the Congregational Sunday School and 
Publishing Society, one; and by the Congregational Board of 
Ministerial Relief, one. No person in the employ of any of 
these constituent societies shall be eligible to membership in 
the Board of Managers. In choosing members of the Board 
of Managers regard shall be had to geographical distribution. 
Should any one of these societies become legally or practically 


ony}: Wis 


THE COUNCIL AND THE SOCIETIES 





consolidated with the Home Board of Missions, or with any 
constituent society, the membership of the Board of Managers 
shall be adjusted as shall then seem wise to the Home Board 
of Missions. These twenty-two members of the Board of 
Managers thus elected shall be so chosen that they shall serve 
ultimately for terms of four years each, and that the term of 
eleven members shall expire with each biennial meeting of the 
Home Board of Missions and their successors be then chosen. 
No member who has served upon the Board of Managers for 
two full successive terms of four years each shall be eligible 
for re-election until after a year has passed. 


Duties of the Board of Managers. While the Board of 
Managers shall not be charged with the details of the admin- 
istration of the constituent societies, it shall be the duty of the 
Board of Managers to consider the work of all the constituent 
societies, to prevent duplication of missionary activities, to 
effect all possible economies in administration, and to seek to 
correlate the work of the constituent societies so as to secure 
the maximum of efficiency with the minimum of expense. To 
this end the Board of Managers shall nominate Secretaries 
and Treasurers of the several constituent societies, and shall 
examine and make recommendations regarding the annual 
budgets of the said societies. The Board of Managers shall 
also make recommendations to the several constituent socie- 
ties when, in its judgment, the work of the said societies can 
be made more efficient or economical. While the Board of 
Managers shall act as a whole in the final consideration of 
matters properly coming under its cognizance, it may appoint 
an executive and other standing sub-committees. In view of 
the somewhat divergent interests involved, one of these sub- 
committees may have special relation to the extensive and 
evangelistic work of the Congregational Churches as conduct- 
ed through the agencies of the Congregational Home Mission- 
ary Society, the Congregational Church Building Society, the 
Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society, and the 
Congregational Board of Ministerial Relief; and another may 
have special relation to the educational work of the said 
churches as conducted through the agencies of the American 
Missionary Association and the Congregational Education 


sensi Hawt 


THE COUNCIL AND THE SOCIETIES 





Society. This Board of Managers shall possess all the pow- 
ers usually exercised by boards of directors of corporations. 


Cfficers. The officers of the Home Board of Missions shall 
be a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer and such Sec- 
retaries and other officers as the Corporation may from time 
to time determine. In the interests of economy and efficiency 
and to prevent unnecessary duplication of officers, the said 
Home Board of Missions, in choosing its paid officers, may 
select when possible those who perform similar services in 
one or more of the constituent societies. 


Meetings. Regular meetings of the Home Board of Mis- 
sions shall be held in connection with the meeting of the Na- 
tional Council. Special meetings of the Home Board of Mis- 
sions may be called by a majority vote of the Board of Man- 
agers. 

Expenses. The expenses of officers, the necessary ex- 
penses of members of the Board of Managers in attending 
meetings, and the actual cost of visits to fields of labor which 
may be ordered by the Board of Managers shall be paid. Un- 
til other funds are available for the purpose, the necessary 
expenses of the administration of the Home Board of Missions 
shall be met by the constituent societies in such way as the 
Board of Managers of said Home Board of Missions may de- 
termine in consultation with the administrative boards of the 
constituent societies. 

Reports. It shall be the duty of the Home Board oi Mis- 
sions to make a full and accurate report of its work to the 
National Council of the Congregational Churches of the 
United States at each meeting of that body. 

4. The Six Constituent Societies. The Congregational 
Home Missionary Society, the American Missionary Associa- 
tion, the Congregational Education Society, the Congrega- 
tional Church Building Society, the Congregational Sunday 
School and Publishing Society, and the Congregational Boar< 
of Ministerial Relief, so long as they maintain their corporate 
individuality, shall be conducted as constituent societies of 
the Home Board of Missions. They shall make a detailed 
report of their doings to the Home Board of Missions, at each 
regular meeting of said Board, they shall hold their books 


Ba Bes 


THE COUNCIL AND THE SOCIETIES 





and records open to the inspection of the Board of Managers 
of the said Home Board of Missions, they shall welcome the 
members of the said Board of Managers to any part of their 
fields for inspection and report; they shall consider and make 
formal response to the proposals and recommendations of the 
said Board of Managers; and they shall submit their annual 
budgets to the said Board of Managers for examination, rec- 
ommendation and approval. 

Meetings of the Constituent Sccieties. Regular meetings 
of each of the constituent societies above named shall be heil< 
annually. Those falling in the same year in which the Home 
Board of Missions holds its session shall be held in connection 
with the meeting of the said Board. Meetings in other years 
shall be held at such times and places as the constituent soci- 
eties may determine. 

Membership of the Constituent Societies. The voting 
membership of each of the constituent societies shall consist 
of the corporate membership of the Home Board of Missions, 
with the addition of such life members and other members of. 
the constituent society as may be regarded as legally neces- 
sary. No new voting members of any constituent society 
shall be created other than the corporate membership of the 
Home Board of Missions. 

Officers of the Constituent Societies. Each of the constitu- 
ent societies shall elect such officers as its charter, constitution 
and by-laws may require, subject to the agreement above 
specified that nominations shall be made by the Board of Man- 
agers of the Home Board of Missions for Secretaries and 
Treasurers. 

Administrative Boards. Each of the constituent societies 
shall have an administrative board which shall have immedi- 
ate supervision of its affairs, to be constituted, till otherwise 
ordered by joint agreement between the Home Board of Mis- 
sions and the constituent society concerned, as followed: 

The Congregational Home Missionary Society. The Di- 
rectors of the Congregational Home Missionary Society shall 
consist of the President of the Society, ex-officio, and of cer- 
tain representatives of the constituent states and the work at 
large, chosen for the same terms as at present, with the addi- 


prays: 


THE COUNCIL AND THE SOCIETIES 


tion of three members of the Board of Managers of the Home 
Board of Missions, nominated by that Board of Managers and 
elected by the Congregational Home Missionary Society. 


The American Missionary Association. The Executive 
Committee of the American Missionary Association shall con- 
sist of certain members chosen by the Association for the 
same terms as at present, with the addition of three members 
of the Board of Managers of the Home Board of Missions, 
nominated by that Board of Managers and elected by the 
American Missionary Association. 


The Congregational Education Society. The Directors of 
the Congregational Education Society: shall consist of the 
President and Vice President of the Society, ex-officiis, and of 
certain members chosen by the Society for the same terms as 
at present, with the addition of one member of the Board of 
Managers of the Home Board of Missions, nominated by that 
Board of Managers and elected by the Congregational Educa- 
tion Society. 


The Congregational Church Building Society. The Trust- 
ees of the Congregational Church Building Society shall con- 
sist of certain members chosen by the Society. for the same 
terms as at present, with the addition of one member of the 
Board of Managers of the Home Board of Missions, nominated 
by that Board of Managers and elected by the Congregational 
Church Building Society. 


The Congregational Sunday School and Publishing So- 
ciety. The Directors of the Congregational Sunday School 
and Publishing Society shall consist of certain members 
chosen by the Society for the same term as-at present, with 
the addition of one member of the Board of Managers of the 
Home Board of Missions, nominated by that Board of Man- 
agers and elected by the Congregational Sunday School and 
Publishing Society. 

As soon as it shall seem advisable to the Board of Man- 
agers of the Home Board of Missions, the missionary and ed- 
ucational work of the Congregational Sunday School and Pub- 
lishing Society shall be separated from that of publication, and 
shall be transferred to other existing Congregational agencies, 


patie 


THE COUNCIL AND THE SOCIETIES 





—the determination of this division to be under the superin- 
tendence of the said Board of Managers. 

The profits of the publishing department of the Congrega- 
tional Sunday School and Publishing Society may be appropri- 
ated to one or more of the missionary, educational, adminis- 
trative or ministerial relief agencies of the Congregational 
Churches, in such assignment and proportion as the Board of 
Managers of the Home Board of Missions may determine in 
consultation with the Directors of the Congregational Sun- 
day School and Publishing Society. 

5. The Congregational Board of Ministerial Relief. The 
Congregational Board of Ministerial Relief shall continue, till 
otherwise ordered by the National Council, to be administered 
as at present, with the modification that at each election one 
of the members chosen by the National Council shall be a 
member of the Board of Managers of the Home Board of Mis- 
sions, nominated by that Board of Managers as its representa- 
tive. 

6. Consolidation. Upon taking the necessary legal meas- 
ures, and with the antecedent approval of the Board of Man- 
agers of the Home Board of Missions, any one of the constit- 
uent societies may unite with any other constituent society in 
one organization, or may unite in one corporation with the 
Home Board of Missions. In the interests of simplicity and 
economy, such consolidation shall be encouraged. 

7. Gifts and Legacies. Each of the constituent socie- 
ties may receive gifts and legacies. Gifts and legacies received 
by the Home Board of Missions and directed to be transferred 
to any particular society shall be so transferred. Gifts and 
legacies designated to be used for a particular purpose shall 
be so applied. Other moneys received by the Home Board of 
Missions shall either be used for the maintenance of the said 
Home Board of Missions, or distributed among the constitu- 
ent societies in such manner as the Board of Managers of the 
Home Board of Missions may determine. 


Bile saae. 


Che Secretarpship of the National 
Council . 


The Commission of Nineteen on Polity, appointed by the 
National Council at Boston, reports to the Congregational 
Churches that it is not yet able to proceed to the nomination 
of a Secretary because the necessary funds for the support of 
this office are not yet available. The earnest attention of all 
is called to the statement on this subject, to be found at the 
end of this report. Your Commission, however, desires at 
this time, in view of the uncertainty concerning this new office, 
to present the following statement as embodying its concep- 
tion of the proposed enlarged Secretaryship: 

As the new Secretaryship can be only the present Secre- 
taryship expanded, so the new duties must be the old duties 
extended and multiplied. The present service must be sus- 
tained. Its main lines hardly need to be mentioned; they 
cover all that is included in the adequate maintenance of the 
office, the keeping of the records, the enlarging correspond- 
ence, the gathering of our denominational statistics, the pub- 
lication and distribution of the Year Book and the Minutes 
of the National Council, the notification of all regular and 
special meetings of the Council, the construction of programs 
and preparation of meetings. In addition to all this, the Sec- 
retary has hitherto served and represented the Congregation- 
al Churches in both denominational and interdenominational 
meetings and movements, as his time and strength permitted. 

It is now proposed to modify the character, or at least the 
internal balance and emphasis, of the Secretary’s functions 
and to extend the range of his action. Hitherto the stress has 
been laid upon the service rendered in and from the office in 
the Congregational House, Boston; and this not through any 
mistaken preference of the incumbent, but upon the common 
understanding of his duty. 

The new stress will be laid upon field service and con- 
structive leadership. The office work may be carried on by 


DEL) 0 


THE SECRETARYSHIP OF THE COUNCIL 





other hands under the Secretary’s responsible supervision, 
while he himself spends much of his time among the Churches, 
as he may be invited and welcomed to their important as- 
semblies. 


A most obvious service will be rendered as the Secretary 
visits from time to time our denominational congresses, state 
conferences and district associations, attends our various mis- 
sionary meetings, and answers special calls for help in differ- 
ent parts of the country. Many voices have already served 
notice of their desire for such ministry on his part. It is cer- 
tain that he will be warmly welcomed and very helpful up to 
the limits of his time and strength. 


The Moderator of the National Council must always be 
our foremost representative; he is not, however, free for con- 
tinuous service. The Secretary, therefore, will be our most 
constant official representative for all occasions and purposes 
of fraternal co-operation, whether Congregational or inter- 
denominational, whether local or sectional, national or inter- 
national. 

The new Secretary may be expected to co-operate with 
our Congregational leaders in their several branches of work. 
We are co-ordinating our departments of labor. Mutual in- 
terest is sought and trusted. There will be ways wherein the 
Secretary of the Council may become a valued co-worker 
with the men engaged in state and national administration. 

In particular, he should continue to assist, as at present, 
on the Board of Ministerial Relief. As he journeys among 
the Churches, he will be able to do much to promote this en- 
terprise and to aid its Secretary. 

Just at present a special call has been sounded for the new 
Secretary to be the active agent of our most pressing interest 
—the Apportionment Plan. The Apportionment Commission 
has overturned the Policy Commission to make an early nom- 
ination for the Secretaryship in order that the new officer 
may for a tirae give his main attention to extending and per- 
fecting our approved method of systematic benevolence. This 
would be a practicable and valuable form of co-operation, as 
well as an excellent introduction of the Secretary to his new 
relations. 


page ee 


THE SECRETARYSHIP OF THE COUNCIL 





The Secretary will find an important line of service as ex- 
officio a member of ad interim committees and commissions 
of the National Council. At the present much projected work 
languishes or fails for lack of an active agent. The commit- 
tees and commissions have no such official member, nor any 
funds for special expenses. They will obtain in the Secretary 
an executive agent free to move and provided with his ex- 
penses. By him their plans will be developed and made fruit- 
ful, as well as kept in mutual accord. 


In this connection it will appear natural and logical that 
the new Secretary should take charge of all matters for which 
the Council is responsible, and for which no other specific pro- 
vision shall be made. He will find occasion to encourage the 
publication of discussions promotive of Congregational inter- 
ests. He will be looked to for suggestions of ways in which 
our denominational work may be enlarged and improved. 

A matter of the first importance is already rising before 
our eyes. The tercentenary of the settlement of New Eng- 
land is swiftly approaching. In the observance of that mo- 
mentous event the sons of the Pilgrims must be among the 
foremost. The intervening years are none too long for such 
developments of our Congregational life and such special prep- 
arations as will enable us to take a most worthy and signifi- 
cant part in the national and international celebrations. 
Through these anniversary years the Secretary of the National 
Council will have the important and inspiring task of prepar- 
ing for our Congregational tribute to our fathers in praise of 
our fathers’ God. 


The proposed Secretaryship has seemed to some thought- 
ful minds exposed to a charge of indefiniteness. The reply is 
that to confine a movement to precise terms is to condemn it 
to the littleness of what can now be seen. Congregational- 
ism has entered upon improvement and expansion; these can- 
not be exactly and totally foreseen, but must be traced with 
patient steps. There is a large place for representative lead- 
ership, such as arrogates nothing, but makes itself so helpful 
as to be employed and rejoiced in. The time has come to 
elect to the proposed Secretaryship of the National Council 
one of our strongest and most trusted men, to lay upon him 


Bak hes 


THE SECRETARYSHIP OF THE COUNCIL 





such new duties and enlargements of old duties as are obvious 
and desirable, and then to grant him the unhampered oppor- 
tunity of leading forward into the fuller day. 

The man capable of these weighty responsibilities must 
possess in good measure two kinds of equipment. He will 
be in constant demand for public address. He must be able 
to discuss great issues with broad vision and effective speech. 
He will also be called into council where men are intent upon 
problems and methods of Christian work. He must be a 
prudent counselor, a constructive statesman, a tactful admin- 
istrator, a forceful leader of men. Great as these requirements 
are, there are men among us who possess them in eminent 
degree and would make the Secretaryship an office of contin- 
uous helpfulness and productive power. 

To secure such heightened efficiency will involve some in- 
crease in the costs of administration, estimated by the Com- 
mission at about $5,000 per annum. Sufficient funds for this 
purpose are not immediately in sight. The Commission has 
received generous offers from individual members of the 
churches to provide part of a fund to initiate this enterprise, 
and is confident that effort would readily secure a sufficient 
amount for the first year or two of the undertaking. The Com- 
mission feels, however, that it is a matter of such extensive 
denominational significance that it should not be initiated by 
individual contribution. It should either be undertaken by 
the Provisional Committee of the National Council, provided 
funds be put into the hands of the Committee for that purpose, 
either by its own request from the churches or by gift; or if 
that should seem to the Committee not feasible, it should 
await the further provision of the next National Council as 
to the expense involved. The Commission believes that the 
new Secretaryship should be initiated as speedily as possible. 
It presents its report for the information and consideration of 
the Churches. It regards the proposed development of the 
Secretaryship as a most important step in Congregational 
progress, calculated to arouse enthusiasm, denominational 
loyalty, and greater service in the advancement of the King- 
dom of God. 





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